High-strength in-line fiber optic connector

Abstract

An in-line fiber optic connector has a pair of ferruled components having rrules enclosing optical fibers. The optical fibers are connected by placing the faces of said ferrules in abutment with each other inside a split tube. Threaded components that abut the ferruled components bring the faces of the ferrules together by being threaded to each other. This enables the compression between the faces of the ferrules to be closely controlled.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fiber optic connector for connecting optical fibers comprising: a pair of ferruled components with each of said ferruled components having aperture means for passing one of said optical fibers throughout the entire length of said ferruled component and having holding means for holding one of said optical fibers, each of said ferruled components further having a ferrule with a face at an end of said ferrule, the faces providing an interface between said optical fibers;   a pair of compression nuts having threads, with each compression nut abutting and positioning one of said ferruled components;   a split ceramic tube having each of said ferrules inserted into opposite ends of said tube; and   a connecting sleeve having threads at opposite ends of said sleeve with each end threaded to respective compression nuts for enabling each of said compression nuts to abut and position one of said ferruled components.   
     
     
       2. A fiber optic connector according to claim 1 further comprising: said pair of ferruled components, said threads of said pair of compression nuts, said split ceramic tube and said connecting sleeve all being coaxial; and   said ferrules of said pair of ferruled components being located innermost, said split ceramic tube being radially outward of said ferrules, said connecting sleeve being radially outward of said ceramic tube, and said threads of said compression nuts being located radially outward of said connecting sleeve.   
     
     
       3. A fiber optic connector according to claim 2 further comprising: a pair of swaging sleeves with each swaging sleeve connected to at least one optical fiber at an axial location outside of each of said ferruled components; and   a pair of strain reliefs with each strain relief connected to and located radially outward of each of said swaging sleeves.   
     
     
       4. A fiber optic connector according to claim 3 further comprising: each of said compression nuts having inner threads; and   said connecting sleeve having outer threads.   
     
     
       5. A fiber optic connector for connecting optical fibers comprising: a pair of ferruled components with each of said ferruled components having aperture means for passing one of said optical fibers throughout the entire length of said ferruled component and having holding means for holding one of said optical fibers, each of said ferruled components further having a ferrule with a face at an end of said ferrule, the faces providing an interface between said optical fibers;   a compression nut having threads, said compression nut abutting and positioning one of said ferruled components;   a split ceramic tube having each of said ferrules inserted into opposite ends of said tube; and   a body abutting and positioning the other of said ferruled components and further having threads that are threaded to said compression nut.   
     
     
       6. A fiber optic connector according to claim 5 further comprising: said pair of ferruled components, said ceramic tube and a portion of said body all being coaxial; and   said ferrules of said pair of ferruled components being located innermost, said split ceramic tube being radially outward of said ferrules, and said portion of said body extending radially outward of said ceramic tube.   
     
     
       7. A fiber optic connector according to claim 6 further comprising: a pair of swaging sleeves with each swaging sleeve connected to at least one optical fiber at an axial location outside of each of said ferruled components; and   a pair of strain reliefs with each strain relief connected to and located radially outward of each of said swaging sleeves.   
     
     
       8. A fiber optic connector according to claim 7 further comprising: said compression nut having outer threads; and   said body having inner threads.